Gunung Nuang is the highest mountain of Selangor with the height of 1,493 metres (4,898 ft) and it is part of the Titiwangsa Mountains. This mountain is actually border of 3 states which is Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan. Hiking to Nuang's peak can start from either Kuala Pangsoon Hulu Langat, Janda Baik or Kemensah (Gombak, near Kuala Lumpur). But of course, the most popular route is through Hulu Langat... the climb which involve a two hour hike on a very steep road, then an optional stop at "Camp Lolo", and after that there is a six hour push to the peak, and a four hour trek to the ground. (source)

My Story...

Hiking to Nuang is always being my dream since I started to like hiking. Hahaha but never got a chance cos so many story that it was very tough and require your full energy level & stamina if you want to make it in just one day thru Pangsoon, Hulu Langat. Unless...you are willing to overnight at Lolo camp & continue hiking on the next day. Sounds like very difficult to make it in one day to people like me but not to the experienced hikers with good fitness level.

Actually, I've beed to Pangsoon Trail before, it was 2 years back. And that time, our target only up to Lolo Camp. Konon-konon nak servey dulu lah kan tengok dulu track dia macam mana. Anyway, until today no plan for hiking thru that track... hahaha.

I found out from my fellow trekkers that there is a trail up to this mountain via Janda Baik in Pahang. And I was informed that Nuang via Janda Baik is less tough and hikers can spend less time to complete the climb (up & down). With that in mind, I planned Nuang trip via Janda Baik and of course with my hiking group. We were told it'd probably take us between 3 to 4 hours of hiking to the peak.

Initially, my target was around 10 people but out of sudden it becomes a hot event... total of of 23 persons joined. And it was not so easy to handle a big group hiking with different fitness level.

Looking on the unpredictable weather lately, so, I planned to start the trekking early in the morning. So, on the day of event, we set out at 5.00am as our earliest meeting time. We met first at Masjid Al-Ridhuan at MRR2 to pick up & meet up with few members before proceed to Tol Gombak at 5.15a.m to meet with other member came from other places. After that, we proceed to Genting Sempah RnR to stop for suboh prayer & having a quick breakfast.

How to get here?

From Tol Gombak, Take the E8 Karak/Kuantan Highway. Immediately after the tunnel, take the exit to the rest area (Genting Sempah) and Janda Baik.

Around 6.30a.m, we headed to Kampung Janda Baik. It's fairly easy to find, just straight drive all the way. Look for the Institut Latihan Memperkasa UMNO (ILMU). .. the banners are everywhere along the way. And when you find the ILMU on your right, you are on the right track. We met with our guide here before proceed. After passing ILMU, you have to drive straight in front for about 2km until you come to a junction. Here is where the TAR road ends. You can park your car at the designated area. The trail to Gunung Nuang is on the right... just after you cross the stream.

Tips: Parking space is limited, thus, car pooling is advisable. If you come in a big group, maybe you can park your car at Genting Sempah RnR and shared cars before drive all the way to the starting point.

After a short briefing from our guide Uteh, we started our trekking and the first challenge was to cross the stream. It was still early in the morning and the water was quite cold. Hahaha, belum panas pon lagi dah start basah.

Follow the farm trail for about 20 minutes until you see Orang Asli traditional house... further walk around 10 minutes will bring you to a junction, turn into slightly right up and finally, beginning of the jungle trail that leads to Cemperoh waterfall (another 30 minutes) where you need to cross the river stream again before straight up to the mountain.

What I noticed, there were no check point, rest hub and proper sign at the junctions. However, after we crossed the 2nd stream (Chemperoh waterfall), plastic ribbon tied on three can be spotted along the way, but it is better to follow the guide closely as there were few points that can easily get confuse.

Here the terrain was quite rough. We have to pass through some thick bushes, several fallen trees and thru a bamboo forest. A few times we practically need to bend underneath some massive fallen bamboo trunks & trees.

Don't be surprised as there were so many leeches along the way. Alhamdulillah, none interested with my sweet blood. Maybe after tips given by Mom & Mariam, soaking the socks (you will use later) inside the water with tobacco and then dry it. Tips orang dulu-dulu ni, anyway it worked.

We reached the peak about 4 hours later... around 12.30pm, but only quarter of our group. The rest still at the back. There were already few hikers when we reached there and majority of them were using Hulu Langat trails. As expected, the veteran group & 2 chinese guy that overtook us along the Janda Baik trail also already there. We're the first to start but they reached the peak first... cannot compete their stamina... huhuhu.

For those reach early, we spent almost 2 hours on the peak... waiting for the rest of the member (yang baru sampai) taking time for lunch & rest. Just then, we started descending.

Descending is fairly easy on Janda Baik trail, you can enjoy the forest environment and take time to descend with relax. My friend Steve & Mariam took only 1 & half hour to descend to Chemperoh waterfall from peak without the guide. Lambat kata nye menunggu yang lain... It's ok, as long as you safe. I was the 3rd to arrive after follow my guide Fairuz and Hazwan running all the way to the waterfall after halfway descending.

We spent around 1 hour at Cemperoh waterfal. While waiting for the remaining team to descend, Some of us spent time soak into the refreshing water to clean out dirts, solat, makan-makan & taking pictures for the last time at Cemperoh waterfal. Around 6p.m, we started to descend to the starting point and reached before 7pm.

Track thru Janda Baik is definitely a more decent trail, enjoyable, mossy environment on last half an hour to the peak, refreshing waterfall, farm view and well located river stream at the end of the hike where we can clean our dirty shoes before get into the car. Janda Baik trail is much easier compare to track thru Pangson (cakap macam pernah naik thru Pangson jer... cheh).

To me, even if you're unexperienced hiker, you can hike thru this Janda Baik trail provided you have a good fitness level. Physical fitness is indeed a prerequisite. However, if you're looking for fun and challenging trails, I think trail thru Pangsoon Hulu Langat is the answer. Maybe, I should try before retired... Insyallah.

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